The Penn's Grove record., 1887-06-04

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and half vexed. "You know / have
often told you that 1 dislike those
things. The piercing notes of a canary
go through my head; a parrot is odious,
and 1 have a detestation for the whole
feline tribe. But l wish you could see
this little beauty. | know she has not
her equal in New York city,"
"Pshawl'' cried my husband. GLOW
you women do carry on"
"If you could only see her for your
self, Charles, | know, you would be of
my opinion" / retorted warmly. But
Charley only "pshawed again, and said
he had no use for such small fry.
So, finding my husband sc unsympa-
thetic on the subject, l did not mention
it again, but continued my daily walks
In the square and my constant meetings
with Floribel. AT these meetings |
always took her in my arms, and Law
lshed a thousand caresses upon her. |
had learned to love the little thing
dearly, and l believe she loved me in
return. She would always run to meet
me with a glad little cry Of recognition,
and she did indeed beguile many of my
weary hours.
But the more 1 saw of her, the more
I longed for her. | wanted her for my
very own. l should then and there have
fled temptation and never looked upon
her again. But l could not. That in
nocent face, those sweet, bright eyes
which had learned to know me so well,
possessed a fascination l could not re-
sist. / coveted her possession so ear
nestly that it became the one absorbing
subject Of my thoughts. / resolved to
steal herl
Who can understand the workings of
the human mind? Who can tell what
conflicts of conscience 1 endured ere |
came to 50 sinful a resolution Judge
not, oh man, thou that judgest thy
brother; and oh, woman, that judgest
thy sister woman. Wait till We also are
tempted, ere We condemn. Know you
not that ole idea long dwelt upon in
secret dominates over the mind till
insanity is produced? / can offer but
one plea in my behalf. | believe | was
temporarily insane, and hardly account
able. l certainly became a monomaniao.
Inever breathed my intention to my
husband. lie would most certainly
have prevented its execution. 1 did not
think what account L should render to
him afterward, should 1 succeed in my
design.
If / had thought that the treasure
could have been purchased, there is no
sum 1 would have considered too exc
bitant to have given to get her into my
possession. But l felt sure such offer
would have been worse than useless.
From the moment | made up my
mind to commit the theft, l watched
for my opportunity, but for some time
none presented itself. / never saw her
without the nurse, or some of the
family, who always kept a close watch
upon her. But one day l met her as
usual in the square with the nurse, and
a bright thought occurred to me.
"Here, nurse" / said, for we had be-
come quite well acquainted now, and
drawing some small change from my
pocket, stake this and 60 across the
square to that candy shop and get some
sugar plums, and We'll have a little
feast under the trees, Floribel looks as
though she would enjoy some! and III
take care Of her while you are gone"
The nurse readily assented, but hesita-
ted when she rose.
"Of course, ma'am, you won't let
Floribel stray off? And you'll be here
when 1 get back? You know, ma'am,
Pm responsible"
"You can certainly trust her with
me-" l returned, $50 be off nurse"
And the woman went. 1 waited until
1 saw her enter the confectioner's door.
Then | sprang up. 'sFlorlbel!" l cried,
and at my voice the little one came tod
ding up. l snatched her up in my
arms and commenced to walk slowly at
first, but graduallyquickening my pace,
in the direction Of my own home, cast
ing occasional glances behind me. 1
had gone two blocks and was about to
hail a stage when l heard pattering feet
behind me, and the nurse came rushing
up breathless.
sob, ma'am," she cried, ''you gave
me such a scarel When | got back to
the square 7 couldn't see you anywhere
and a kind policeman-said you had
come up this way-and then | caught a
glimpse of her little head over your
shoulder. Oh, ma'am, what a turn you
gave mel"
Here the nurse stopped and painted.
My intention had not been suspected;
that was clear.
II got tired sitting there" 1 said,
turning to retrace my steps, land
thought I'd walk about till you re-
turned. Did you get the candy? Well,
then, We'll 60 back and eat 1t under the
trees"
So was foiled for the once, but de-
termined to bide my time.
A few days after l was slowly saun-
tering by the house which contained my
darling, when just as l got opposite, the
front door opened, and one of the little
girls came out with Floribel, as if going
for a walk. She got halfway down the
stops when she seemed to have forgot
ten something. for, setting down the
little one on the stoop, she went back
in the house, leaving the door open.
She had hardly entered when a sudden
gust of wind slammed the door to.
There was not a soul near; no one but
my little precious, who stood ON the
upper step, gazing wistfully at the
closed door, In an instant / was across
the street, and had caught her up in my
arms. DIG hucN uO az OhCS, gave u
glad cry, and put her face up to mine to
be kissed. But l had no time to waste
in caresses now. The house was on a
corner and l flew around it into a cross
street. l should not be foiled this time.
If l could only reach the horse-car /
would be safe; but | had another block
to go and that was a long one between
the avenues. / would have run with all
speed but was afraid of attracting atten-
ton. Walking rapidly l at length
reached the car line. | looked down
the street; q car was just in sight. |
waited a moment in breathless impa-
thence, then turned to go and meet it.
As l did SO, a voice was borne on the
breeze behind me-
sFloribell"
1 turned, and beheld, half a square
distant, the little girl that had started
out to walk with Floribel. She was in
hot pursuit of Inc. | threw discretion
to the wind and rushed down the street
to meet the advancing car. | raised my
hand frantically to signal the driver,
when a heavy hand came down on my
lanu orI N cfapn rNiaa Said.